The National Council has approved a package of amendments to the Road Traffic Act that introduces a number of important changes.
U-Turns at Intersections
One of the key changes is the removal of the general ban on making U-turns at signal-controlled intersections. Currently, such a manoeuvre is prohibited in Slovakia unless it is explicitly permitted by a traffic sign. Once the new law takes effect, the situation will change: U-turns will be allowed by default unless prohibited by a «No U-Turn» sign.
The Ministry of the Interior explained that the current rule is unusual by international standards and requires additional signs to be installed wherever U-turns are permitted.
Speeding
The amendments also introduce higher penalties for serious speeding offences. These apply to cases where a driver exceeds the speed limit by more than 50 km/h in a built-up area and by more than 60 km/h outside a built-up area. The new fines will increase as follows:
- for cases handled through standard administrative proceedings (riadne konanie), fines will increase by €300, bringing the new range to €800–€1,300;
- for cases handled through simplified on-the-spot proceedings (blokové konanie), fines will increase by €200–€250, bringing the new range to €500–€1,000.
Pedestrians, E-Scooters and Alcohol
The changes will also affect pedestrians. The law will explicitly prohibit pedestrians from stepping onto a pedestrian crossing suddenly in front of approaching vehicles. In addition, pedestrians crossing the road will not be allowed to use mobile phones or other devices in a manner that prevents them from paying proper attention to traffic conditions.
Significant restrictions are being introduced for electric scooter owners. Models equipped with motors capable of speeds exceeding 25 km/h will no longer be permitted on public roads. As a result, some high-powered e-scooters will effectively become illegal for use in road traffic.
Another new provision concerns alcohol. The zero-alcohol requirement will apply not only to drivers but also to motorcycle passengers, as well as passengers on multi-seat bicycles and tourist attractions such as beer bikes.
Rehabilitation Programmes and Objective Liability
Drivers who repeatedly violate traffic regulations will be required to complete a rehabilitation programme with a transport psychologist. Authorities believe that this measure will help reduce the number of repeat offences.
The amendments also expand police powers to apply the principle of objective liability. This will make it easier to detect and penalise a broader range of traffic violations without having to establish the identity of the driver in every individual case.
Driving Licences and Parking
The changes will also affect future drivers. The driving licence examination process will be divided into two stages: candidates will first have to pass the theoretical examination and only then will they be allowed to begin practical training and take the driving test. In addition, applicants enrolling in Category B driving courses will be required to have at least a basic secondary education.
Online driving licence examinations in Slovakia were introduced on 1 April 2023. Applicants who had taken their initial examinations before that date were allowed to complete repeat testing using the previous paper-based format. All other candidates began taking electronic tests in dedicated examination rooms at traffic police departments.
Separate amendments concern taxi services, parking and standing regulations. In particular, the parking ban on roads outside built-up areas is being expanded to include sections marked with the «Priority Road» sign.
Most of the new rules will come into force in September 2026.
